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Health

“Make this New Year’s Eve as safe as possible!” – Swann

Health Minister Robin Swann has urged the public to make this New Year’s Eve as safe as possible by following health guidance and advice. “Traditionally this is a time when we look forward with hope and optimism. This year we will do the same but that must be tempered by continued caution and awareness that […]

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Banbridge Health Lurgan Politics

MLAs Must Explain Why Disabled Babies Less Worthy of Life – Lockhart

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has urged local Upper Bann MLAs Doug Beattie and John O’Dowd to explain to the public why they believe it is right that a baby can be aborted on the grounds of disability to full term of pregnancy. Both Mr Beattie and Mr O’Dowd rejected a Bill by DUP MLA […]

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Health South Armagh

Boylan Welcomes Meeting With Keady GPs

Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh, Cathal Boylan, welcomed an engagement with a number of GP’s in Keady.  Speaking after the meeting, Cathal commented: “Myself and my party colleague Mickey Brady MP attended a meeting with GPs in Keady to discuss the current pressures on GP’s and what can be done to assist them.  […]

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Health

Omicron Variant Up to 70% Less Severe

Those who catch the Covid 19 variant known as Omicron are 50% to 70% less likely to need hospital care according to a new study. The report comes from data obtained in South Africa, Denmark, England and Scotland which all recorded reduced severity of the Omicron variant. According to the BBC, the UK Health Security […]

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Health Newry

Kimmins Calls for Cycling Investment for Newry and Armagh

Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins is calling for more cycling investment in Newry and Armagh following a Committee for Infrastructure briefing from Sustrans and has stated that an opportunity was missed during covid to change peoples travel behaviour. The Newry and Armagh MLA stated: “We need to urgently move away from fossil fuels in order […]

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Health Politics

NI Executive Has Announced New Covid 19 Restrictions

The Northern Ireland Executive have decided the following restrictions relating to Covid 19. Nightclubs to close at 06:00 on 26 December  All indoor standing events prohibited on 26th December No dancing in hospitality from 06:00 on 26 December – (won’t apply to weddings) Rule of six and table service only returns in hospitality on 27th […]

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Health Politics

Cross Border Healthcare Scheme to Continue – Fianna Fail 

Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher has received commitment that the cross-border health scheme will continue until a statutory scheme is in place.     As a result of Brexit, the EU cross-border directive ceased to apply in Northern Ireland. To mitigate this loss, the Government introduced the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme which has been in effective […]

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Health Louth

€1m secured for Development of Drogheda Hospice Unit – O’Dowd

Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, has warmly welcomed news this afternoon that €1m in funding has been secured to assist the development of the long awaited Newgrange Hospice Unit in Drogheda. O’Dowd said “This money today is a real boost for the project which is incredibly important to the Drogheda area and in fact […]

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Business Politics

Executive Draft Budget Prioritises Health – Murphy

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy has today unveiled the Executive’s Draft Budget which prioritises health and social care.  A 12 week consultation period on the proposals set out in the draft Budget will commence on Monday 13 December giving the public the opportunity to have their say. Announcing the Draft 2022-2025 Budget, Minister Murphy said: “The Executive […]

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Health South Down

McGrath: Breast Cancer Audit Must Form Part of Future Planning  

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has reiterated calls for a metastatic breast cancer audit to be undertaken for the North, and said it should be included within the cancer strategy.  Mr McGrath previously submitted an Assembly question asking how many people have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in each of the last five years, […]

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Health Politics

Human Rights Commissioner Must Resign Over Support For Criminalising Pro-Life People – Precious Life

Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life says the Human Rights Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick must resign after she gave her support for a bill to criminalise pro-life people. Precious Life said, “a human rights commissioner who supports denying humans their rights is not fit for office.” The head of the pro-abortion Northern Ireland Human Right Commission […]

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Health South Down

McGrath Backs Plans to Ban Smoking in Cars With Children  

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has backed plans to ban smoking in cars with children. Regulations to make smoking with children in the car a punishable offence were introduced in the Assembly on Monday.  The regulations also include plans to ban the sale of products like e-cigarettes to under 18s.   South Down MLA Mr […]